Abdication Quote by Ayn Rand
“Judge not, that ye be not judge"... is an abdication of moral responsibility: it is a moral blank check one gives to others in exchange for a moral blank check one expects for oneself. There is no escape from the fact that men have to make choices; so long as men have to make choices, there is no escape from moral values; so long as moral values are at stake, no moral neutrality is possible. To abstain from condemning a torturer, is to become an accesory to the torture and murder of his victims. The moral principle to adopt... is: "Judge, and be prepared to be judged.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand, 1964
Moral neutrality is impossible; avoiding judgment makes one complicit in wrongdoing.
In simple terms: You cannot stay neutral on moral issues.
Key Takeaway
Take responsibility for your moral choices.
Themes
ethics
responsibility
complicity
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- legal testimony
- personal relationships
- social activism
Key Concepts
moral agency
judgment
accomplice liability
Questions to Reflect On
- What moral choices are you avoiding?
- How does silence affect victims?
A Different Perspective
Neutrality can lead to passive endorsement of harm.
![“The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today and they, or rather we [journalists], too often are squandering our power and ignoring our obligations. The consequence of our abdication of responsibility is the ugly spectacle of idiot culture!” quote by Carl Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86a/carl-bernstein-10988_abdication_the-reality-is-that-the-media-are-probab_59464.jpg)
